Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has laid out his conditions for ending the war with Iran, saying the conflict will only be resolved when Tehran’s regime either falls or is weakened enough to abandon its nuclear ambitions and that outcome is non-negotiable regardless of whether a diplomatic deal is reached.
Speaking on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo ahead of a Monday meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington, Netanyahu made his position clear.
“I think when this regime is either toppled or it’s sufficiently weakened that it knows it has to end its nuclear programme and has to change its course,” he said.
Full Support for Trump
Netanyahu said he backs Trump’s approach to the conflict fully, describing their objectives as aligned, and confirmed that US-Israeli strikes have already set back Iran’s nuclear capabilities by what he described as “a good few years.” He added that an Iranian nuclear weapon would pose a “mortal peril to every citizen in the United States.”
“That’s really what President Trump is trying to achieve. And I backed him fully. But one way or the other, they have to end their nuclear programme. And with a deal or without a deal, that has to come to an end,” Netanyahu said.
He also warned that any direct or proxy attack on Israel would trigger a “very, very forceful” response, saying Tehran would be making “a terrible mistake” if it chose that path. Fox News
Washington Pauses Strikes
US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz confirmed that President Trump had paused attacks on Iran to allow diplomacy room to advance. “He’s giving talks some space. He’s giving it a little bit of room,” Waltz told Fox News, adding that Washington was keeping all options on the table.
Netanyahu said the decision on whether to renew major strikes on Iran was “in many ways” Trump’s call, while cautioning that Tehran retained the potential to rebuild damaged sites and capabilities. Fox News
What Comes Next
Netanyahu flew to Washington on Monday at Trump’s personal invitation. Iran topped the agenda, alongside discussions on the Strait of Hormuz, where technical and political consultations between Iran and Oman over the waterway are ongoing, with an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson describing the talks as productive. Fox News
With the ceasefire window still fragile and the gap between US demands and Iran’s position unresolved, Netanyahu’s message to Tehran was unambiguous — the war ends when the nuclear programme ends, not before.
Global energy markets continue to monitor the situation closely. The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s daily oil supply passes, remains at the centre of the standoff.
Any breakdown in the current ceasefire arrangement would immediately impact shipping lanes and crude prices, adding further economic pressure to an international community already strained by months of conflict-driven volatility.
With the ceasefire window still fragile and the gap between US demands and Iran’s position unresolved, Netanyahu’s message to Tehran was unambiguous — the war ends when the nuclear programme ends, not before.
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